Life On Mars stars will reunite and 'travel back in time' for new TV show after third series was canceled

Stars of Life On Mars will reunite and 'travel back in time' for a new TV show after the programme's third series was cancelled.

According to a new report, John Simm, 53, and Philip Glenister, 61, will team up again, but unfortunately not for a new episode of the BBC sci-fi.

The former co-stars reunite for an episode of ITV1's DNA Journey in which they explore their ancestry.

A source said The sun: 'It's not quite the reunion that Life On Mars fans would have wanted, but it's probably the closest.

“Some of the old dynamic between John and Philip will still be evident, and the fact that they will travel back in time to research their ancestors in the show seems rather appropriate.”

The ITV series sees celebrities embark on a life-changing journey to explore their family history.

Life On Mars ran for two seasons between 2006 and 2007, before a three-series spin-off Ashes To Ashes.

John, played Sam Taylor, a Manchester police officer who time travels to 1973 after a car accident and finds himself working in the same job under the command of Phillip's character, Chief Inspector Gene Hunt.

In June, it was revealed that the planned third episode of Life On Mars had been scrapped.

Although the original series, released in 2006, was a huge success, show bosses have now revealed that 'financial hurdles' were too big to overcome.

The creators – Matthew Graham and Ashley Pharoah – released the sequel, Ashes to Ashes, in 2008 and had announced details for a sequel in 2020.

The project – called Lazarus – would tie into the Life on Mars universe, with viewers hoping to see characters from both previous shows come together.

But despite revealing that a script for a pilot episode had been completed last year, Matthew revealed the disappointing news that the project had stalled in a statement on Twitter.

The former co-stars will reunite for an episode of ITV1's DNA Journey in which they explore their ancestry, according to The Sun

He wrote: “Some sad news people. After many months of planning, we are no longer making Lazarus. I can't go into details, but the hurdles were financial and not creative.

'Of course everyone involved is as sick as a jungle full of parrots. Not least myself and Ashley Pharoah.”

He continued: 'It was a great concept, relevant to our times. There was a whole new set of things to be said about the relationship between the public and the police.

'And it was damn funny too. But that's, as they say, showbiz baby. Forgive us if we don't ask questions about the decision or what happens next for Gene, Sam and the gang.

'But we wanted to let those interested know about this so you can bring a pint of tan n bitter to the Guv instead.'

Co-creator Ashley added: 'Really disappointing news, but we've thought about it carefully.

'We are still thinking about a way to share the script with you or release it in another form. Until then… pub?'

It followed the story of Inspector Sam Tyler (played by John Simm) who had a car accident in 2006 and was mysteriously taken back in time to 1970s Manchester.

Meanwhile, in the sequel, Ashes to Ashes, he learns that he has a boss in the form of Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister), an old-school DCI.

In the three series that ran until 2010, he followed his superior in the military in the 1980s.

In June, it was revealed that the planned third episode of Life On Mars, titled Lazarua, had been scrapped

Although the original series, released in 2006, was a huge success, show bosses have now revealed the 'financial hurdles' were too great (Picture: John Simm and Liz White)

A new series or one-off Life On Mars program was reportedly rejected by the BBC earlier in 2020, according to Graham's co-creator Ashley Pharoah.

In 2018, he said it didn't make “financial sense” for the company to make a '70s Christmas special.

Both series are notable for combining the genres of mystery, supernatural, science fiction, time travel, period and police procedural drama.

The film twice won the International Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and has since inspired international remakes.